Annual Pike Tournament and Transfer A Success …
Despite The Weather
There's nothing quite like waking up at 5am to
pouring rain and windy conditions when you know you'll soon be out
fishing for the day. Recreational anglers may just roll over in
their warm comfy beds and say "forget it". Not so for most
tournament anglers though … as the drive to compete against both the
fish and fellow competitors is stronger than the temptation to stay
in bed. This was the case for 64 competitive anglers on Lake Simcoe
May 24, 2003 … Site of the annual northern pike tournament hosted by
the Aurora Bassmasters, were primarily the pike filled waters of
Cooks Bay out of Keffers Marina in Keswick.
The Aurora Bassmasters are a dedicated group of bass
fishing enthusiasts who organize this annual event for its members
and anyone else interested in competing. Unlike other catch and
release tournaments however where the fish are live released back
into the water where they came, the ultimate goal here was to
transfer some of the pike caught over to Fairy Lake in Newmarket.
Under the Ministry of Natural Resources' (MNR) Community Fisheries
and Wildlife Improvement Program, 39 pike of varying sizes were
chosen this year by MNR Aurora District biologist Stefan Romberg,
for the live transfer to Fairy Lake. Here the pike were released to
try and balance the local fishery by feeding on the copious amount
of fish like carp and suckers.
What do a group of bass fanatics do before the bass
season opens? They go pike fishing.
All 32 teams who competed in this year's event knew
before hand that the pike fishing could be tough. "A late ice out,
followed by a cold spring, below normal water temperatures and very
little new weed growth, made pike less active then they will be in a
couple of weeks", responded Marc Coratti, president of the Aurora
Bassmasters. Combined with Saturday's rain, cold front conditions
and easterly wind, the excuses were easy to come by. Yet, many teams
needed no excuses at all as three fish limits were common and there
were even three pike over ten pounds weighed in
The winners with 28.8 pounds were the team of Steven
Holland and Carlos Puiati who threw Rapala crankbaits to claim their
$1,000 victory check. To top off their payday, they also took home
the BIG FISH award, with their healthy 13.20 pound northern. That
toothy critter earned them an extra $320.00. Placing 2nd was the
team of Brad Towers and Barry Dawkins who brought in 23.17 pounds
for their three fish limit. In third were Aurora Bassmasters Wes
Roffey and Scott Pierce with 18.73 pounds. All three teams said they
fished slow with crankbaits and jerk baits to entice their lethargic
prey.
At Fairy Lake, the pike will not only help balance
the fishery, but will also add to the fishing opportunities
available here for shorebound anglers. And, on Sunday July 6, 2003,
these shore-fishing opportunities will be highlighted at the Annual
Urban Fishing Festival that the Aurora Bassmasters and several other
partners host each year. Coordinated by the MNR during this "Family
Fishing Weekend", when no licences are required, the Festival is
geared to introduce families and children to the wonderful world of
fishing.
The Aurora Bassmasters are one of 30 Bassmaster
clubs across this province belonging to the Ontario B.A.S.S.
Federation (OBF). Recently clubs from Quebec and Nova Scotia have
also joined. The OBF is one of 51 Federations across the globe -
with 46 in the US, and one each in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Japan,
Italy and us. B.A.S.S. - the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, is the
largest fishing organization in the world with over 600,000 members.
For more information please contact the president of
the Aurora Bassmasters at
marccor@sympatico.ca or check out their website at
www.aurorabass.com
Press release prepared by OBF Conservation and Media
Director: Wil Wegman,
wil.wegman@rogers.com |
